Envelop-fastener.



No. 728,841, PATEN-TB'D MAY 26, 19Q3.

' M. H. BOLSINGER.

ENVELOP FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILBD SEPT. 1B. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES INVENTOR w/WMW @m. M4

z Attorney J.

THE cams Pmns co. PNDTO-L|THO.. wawmamn. n. c.

UNITED I STATES Patented May 26, 1903.

PATENT QEEICE.

ENVELOP-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,841, dated May 26, 1903. Application filed September 18, 1902. Serial No. 123,932. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON H. BOLSINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Windber, in the county of Windber and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Envelop-Fastener; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will onable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to improvements in envelop-fasteners; and it has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device adapted to be readily applied to an envelop and capable of securely fastening the flap thereof in its closed position and of effectively preventing the same from being opened without readily indicating such fact.

A further object of the invention is to provide an envelop-fastener of this character which after an envelop has been unsealed may be efiectively employed for holding the envelop closed, if desired.

The invention-consists in the novel construction and arrangements of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of an envelop provided with a fastener constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the button of the flap. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the eye which is mounted on the body of the envelop. Fig. 4 is a side view of the same. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the eve.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a button constructed of metal or any other suitable material and consisting of an approximately cylindrical body, either solid or hol low, having a rounded body portion 2, forming a bulging end and located below a contracted intermediate portion having an eX terior annular groove 3. The annular groove forms a neck, and the button is provided at the top or head with a narrow peripheral groove 4:, receiving the flap of the envelop and arranged in a suitable opening thereof, the material of the button at the top or head being compressed on the inner and outer faces of the flap and projecting beyond the opening of the same for securing the button to the flap; but any othersuitable means may be employed for securing the button to the flap, if desired. The button is adapted to engage an eye 5 of the body of the envelop,and it is forced into the same bya slight pressure, sufficient to carry the rounded protecting bottom or butt of the button through the eye, which when the parts are fastened, as shown in Fig. 1, surrounds the contracted portion or neck of the button. The eye consists of a circular band or outer ring and an inner ring 6, whichservestosecureadiaphragm7to the eye. The diaphragm 7, which covers the opening of the eye, is constructed of closely-woven fabric, such as linen or canvas, or it may be made of any othersuitable material, the edges of the material of the diaphragm being interposed between the inner and outer rings, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The inner ring is secured within the outer ring or body portion of the eye by crimping the latter over the former; but various other means may be provided for attaching the diaphragm to the eye. The eye is arranged Within an opening of the body portion of the envelop and is provided with an outer peripheral groove 8 to receive the edges of the envelop at such opening and is compressed against the same; but any other suitable means may be employed for securing the body portion of the envelop and the eye together.

In order to prevent the envelop from being opened without detection, the button is provided at its bottom with a projecting barbed prong 9, adapted to pierce the diaphragm and having a shoulder for engaging the inner face of the same, so that when the envelop is forced open the diaphragm will be torn by the shoulder of the prong and will thus indicate such fact. In order to open the envelop, sufficient force must be applied to tear the diaphragm, so that any one opening the envelop can readily ascertain if the same has been previously opened. The barbed prongis arranged centrally on the head of the button, and it is provided with a shank extending through the button and suitably secured to the same. The diaphragm is pressed inward by the project-ing portion of the button, and in opening the envelop the said diaphragm may be partially pulled through the eye to enable the person opening it to ascertain whether the diaphragm has been previously mutilated 0r torn. For this purpose the diaphragm preferably consists of a strip of fabric or other suitable material secured at its ends to the eye.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the envelop-fastener'is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is adapted to be readily applied to envelops and analogous packages, and that it is capable of enabling the same to be readily sealed and protected effectually from being opened undetected.

It will be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be made Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is- 1. A device of the class described, comprising an eye, provided with a diaphragm and designed to be secured to one portion of an envelop, and a button designed to be applied to the other portion of the envelop and provided with a barbed prong arranged to pierce the diaphragm to seal the envelop, said button fitting within and frictionally engaging the eye to hold the envelop closed, whereby the barbed prong and the diaphragm are relieved of strain, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described, comprising an eye provided with a diaphragm, a button having a bulged portion and provided with a contracted portion or neck, and a barbed prong carried by the button for engaging the diaphragm, said button fitting within and frictionally engaging the eye to hold the envelop closed, whereby the barbed prong and the diaphragm are relieved of strain, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described, com prising an eye provided with a diaphragm extending across the eye and arranged to be partially drawn through the same, to permit the envelop to'be examined without tearing the diaphragm, a button for frictionally engaging the eye, and a device carried by the button for engaging the diaphragm, said button fitting within and frictionally engaging the eye for holding the envelop closed whereby the diaphragm is relieved of strain, substantially as described.

4. A device of the class described, comprising an eye having a diaphragm extending across it, said eye being also provided with an inner ring securing the diaphragm to the eye, and a button adapted to engage the eye and provided with means for engaging the diaphragm, substantially as described.

5. A device of the class described, com prising an eye provided with a peripheral groove and having a diaphragm, and a button having a peripheral groove at its head and provided with means for engaging the diaphragm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereto affixed my signatu re in the presence of two witnesses.

MILTON H. BOLSINGER.

Witnesses:

S. W. MOMULLEN, JOHN KINNEY. 

